Working Towards an Exemplary Community            

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Email: mvision2020@telkomsa.net       Website: www.mvision2020.net                  

3^rd October 2006

Dear Zeinoul and Colleagues at Awqaf Foundation,

Assalamu Alaikum!

A post symposium analysis and assessment is a good exercise and it could yield great insights for greater organizational excellence, sustainable follow ups, and will undoubtedly increase our learning curves in so many respects.

No event, no matter what the level of our competencies, capacities, or track record, could ever be convened or pulled off with perfection. There are bound to be oversights and forgivable shortcomings from which all of us could and should learn to simply improve on these leading to the next symposium or event.

I’m sure by now the organizers would have received their fair share of criticism, suggestions to improve, what it could have done better or should not have done, and so forth. If you have received such inputs then this is an indication that people are generally and genuinely concerned about making their input to make our events the international best practice and the standard which others would emulate.

OUTCOMES!

1. It has been sometime since a conference or symposium of this calibre was convened in South Africa with delegates participating from Southern Africa. The convergence and divergence of minds from the Southern African Muslim community on an important theme like the work-in-progress construction of a contemporary Islamic civilization in Southern Africa is a vitally important focus. Such symposia, apart from bringing people together to reflect, generates a certain academic and synergistic energy which would impact on our communities throughout the regions. Unless we act in unison and with a common vision as to the making of a better future for Muslims and Islam in the region and in collaboration with our fellow Africans, not much contribution could be made and the very idea of building a contemporary civilization would be a forlorn dream.  So the Awqaf symposium creates possibilities for us to keep the dream alive of building a sustainable and fecund Islamic civilization in our part of the world.
2. And the fact that we have taken a resolution collectively to host the next conference in Malawi in three years time building on the same theme is in itself evidence that this conference was not merely a once off event but part of an ongoing attempt to achieve our objectives in terms of our civilization. Symposia of these is important to our self-esteem, generates a sense of hope within us, cement our brotherhood, creates a sense that we are one ummah and have a sense of belonging, and above all it provides us with a platform to reflect, think, and further our culture of learning.
3. Some people say that conferences or symposia are mere talk shops and too costly to convene and that monies spent on these could have been better spent. But this is too short sighted a view and it fails to take into consideration that we are supposed to be an IQRA community as a matter of divine decree. For the believers knowledge is a must, and by extension talking, debating, reflecting, and listening to one another in forums like symposia and conferences are much needed initiatives which create the conducive atmosphere and enabling environments for us to create new frontiers for new learning, new inventions, new thought, and above all to renew our faith with vigour and energy in true submission to the Almighty Allah.
4. When our civilization was at its zenith our societies were self-assured and were open to other cultures, other ways of looking at the world without fear or mistrust. The Awqaf symposium gave us a platform to share our perspectives and to adopt a more listening approach to the different perspectives which prevail within our communities. Although, the symposium was predominantly attended by Muslims, it is important that the varied and diverse voices within our communities be attentively echoed and listened to amongst ourselves, and ideas be debated in open and honest ways.
5. The Awqaf symposium renewed and cemented perhaps more firmly this time the synergistic relationship between the South African Muslims and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). As a community our foreign linkages, particularly with countries having predominantly Muslim populations are critical for our own welfare and development. This relationship building has to be sustained and more resource inputs from these countries have to be mobilised to benefit a non-member country like South Africa.
6. The building of ties with IRCICA, the Turkish cultural organization is quite important because Turkey with its geographical presence in both Asia and Europe could enrich our own experience as to better understand Europe, its culture, civilization, and how we could interact with them to the mutual benefit of both ourselves and them.
7. The fact that IRCICA has promised to provide some scholarships to South Africans is a very positive and tangible outcome for the symposium. Of course, we need to take the offer to the next level to ensure it materialises into something practical, sooner rather than later. The study of arts and calligraphy are important dimensions of our civilizational thrust.
8. Also, IRCICA’s offer to bring its cultural exhibition to South Africa should be grabbed with both hands because it presents us with opportunities to showcase Islam and Muslims to wider South African audiences by convening a national exhibition. Such an exhibition could also be synergistically and strategically linked to the forthcoming soccer world cup. This exhibition holds in great opportunities and prospects in the areas of commerce, culture, education, political exchanges, and linking countries for the greater good of us all.
9. The symposium provided an interchange and exchange of ideas between the ulama, heads of NGOs, and other stakeholders who do not always get the opportunity to share and listen to one another’s perspectives. Some of ideas expressed at this symposium would have created an uproar and outcry from some of the ulama in the past. The fact that this did not happen here go to show that there is some kind of scholarship maturity or intellectual ripening taking place in many quarters in our society. This in itself is a sign that an Islamic civilization is in the making, particularly in Southern Africa.
10. The plenary session, particularly the opening session was a great event which lend itself to a great public relations exercise for Awqaf and the participating delegates and heads of NGOs. Although our President Thabo Mbeki could not attend due to ill health, his speech reflect his understanding of what our civilization is all about and how it assumes its role within the broader community of world civilizations. This speech should be widely published. And Minister Essop Pahad should be congratulated for delivering the speech so passionately as if he had written it himself.
11. The documentary of the Pretoria Central Mosque was a remarkable effort which should be circulated to a wider audience and it should be a model which others could emulate to document our spiritual and other achievements in media forms like films, videos, etc.
12. Awqaf should look at the possibility of lending its support to the project initiated by the grandson of Imam Haroon who wants to complete the film documentary on his grandfather which was shown at the MSA students evening. The documentary is presently available in the form of a two minute trailer to give the audience or potential financiers an idea of the project and its ultimate content. The project is in need of funds. The documentation of our heroes who have contributed to our liberation struggle should be a priority for us and falls within the ambit of capturing the poignant moments in our history and the unfolding our civilization as it evolves with the many players making their input. This was also an outcome of the Awqaf symposium because it is a vital work in progress project capturing the life of a remarkable personality whose life and contribution to our society is worthy of emulation by posterity.
13. As the convenors get busy to package the papers and other material which emerged out of the symposium for wider distribution, further debate will be generated, some positive and major, and others simply minor, and marginal.
14. I think the partnership between Awqaf, IRCICA and the University of Johannesburg was a major feat for our community. More of such partnerships will have to be forged serving as catalysts to give our civilization the much needed push and impetus.
15. This symposium on the whole produced some marvellous results which if pursued further would result in magnificent outcomes in the future, Insha’Allah. A symposium of this nature should be seen not as a once off event but as a work in progress which gains momentum and leap frogs into greater projects, opportunities, challenges, and a host of other dimensions which may not be immediately visible at this point in time.

 CRITICISMS AND SUGGESTIONS!

I’m not much of a criticism guy because as Edward De Bono said that criticism is the most negative and least productive aspect of Western thought and thinking. Therefore I’m not going to dwell much on this. However, if I have to venture making some suggestions not to reinvent the wheel but to make a better mouse trap, I would suggest that we look at the following areas which warrant a second thought or reflection as to how we could improve our symposium next time around.

1. I think papers should be concentrated around fewer themes and dealing with burning issues and challenges warranting serious resolution on our part as a community. I know getting the balance right between the intellectual discourse for the sake of it and dealing with pragmatic issues which face our community on a daily basis is a major challenge. Although in a first conference we want to be less controversial and tread quite carefully in order not upset any major stakeholders, a forum of this nature should be the best place to tackle the taboo and seek solutions for unmet challenges and unresolved crises. However, I must admit that some of the issues raised at this conference were quite pertinent to the current challenges facing us.
2. Perhaps if we reduce the sessions to two papers per session rather than three more time would be allocated to the audience allowing for much more meaningful discussion and engagement with the presenters of papers.
3. I think there should at least have been one plenary session per day where two to three papers are delivered to all the participants and thus facilitating a more focussed and concentrated discussion and interaction under one roof. The most burning issues should be chosen for discussion in the plenary sessions.
4. I think some resolutions should have been taken at this symposium which summarise the central outcomes of the deliberations and discussions. Resolutions always help to focus us on what is important and what needs further attention and follow up. Of course, the resolution that the next conference be held in Malawi was important, and the decisions by IRCICA to fund certain scholarships were also important decisions in regard to the way forward.
5. I hope Awqaf has made full use of the presence of so many stakeholders and resource people and got at least a minimum commitment from them to endorse certain decisions and to commit them to the programme of the organization, particularly in areas where Awqaf does not necessarily have a presence.

CONCLUSION!

Vision 2020 was very proud to be associated with this Awqaf initiative and certainly sees the prospect of even greater partnering between the two formations.

The late Professor Ismail Faruqi of Temple University said that the earlier Muslim civilizations were sustained by strong awqaf which provided the necessary funding for projects crucial to our civilizational needs and aspirations. Awqaf has a vitally important contemporary role to play and the Muslim community should be made aware that this organization’s role is deeply rooted in the ethos, history, and edifice of Islam and Muslims. It is nothing less than a religious calling.

PRETORIA MUSLIM SCHOOL  

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